THE GRASS FAMILY 175 



Rice. It yields a line, white flour, which is used for baking 

 bread and for preparing starch. 



2. Maize or Indian Corn (Zea mays, Plate No. 631 — Kan. 

 Mekkejola; 2Ial Ponticcolam ; Tarn. Mokkaicolam) is of American 

 origin, but is now hirgely grown in India. As the few roots 

 developed under the ground are not sufficient to fix the robust 

 culm, with its long, ribbon-like leaves, strong enough in the 

 ground, the lower part of the stem forms adventitious roots, 

 (Plate 625, fig. i), which, like the ropes of a flag-staff, hold it 

 firmly. Unlike all other grasses. Maize is monoecious. The 

 male flowers (fig. 2, 3, 4, 5) are at the top of the plant in a large 

 panicle, the female (fig. 6, 7) are produced lower down in the 

 axils of the leaves and form dense spikes, enclosed in numerous 

 sheaths which protect the coverless pistillate flowers. But as 

 the stigma must be exposed to the wind (why?), the styles are 

 drawn out into long filaments, which protrude from the top of the 

 sheath like a long, silky tassel. The large, mostly yellow grains 

 are densely packed on a thick core, thus forming what is known 

 as a cob. 



Maize is a good food for men and domestic animals. The 

 stalks are valuable as fodder, especially when the cobs are dis- 

 posed of in the green state. 



3. Other Cereals grown in India are 



Indian Millet {Sorghum vulgare; Kan. Bile jola; Mai. Colam) ; 

 Barley (Hordeiim hexastichum; Kan. Javegodi; Tel. Yavalu; 

 San. Yava) ; 



Oats (Avena sat iva; Kan. Tokegodi); 



Ragi {Eleusine coracana; Kan. Ragi) ; 



Little Millet (Fanicum miliaceum; Kan. Bagaru); 



Italian Millet (P. italkum; Kan. Navane) ; and 



Panicum frumentaceum (Kan. Same). 



4. Sugar-cane (Saccharum officinarum, Plate No. 631. — 

 Zaw. Ivabbu; Mai Karimbu; Tarn. Karumbu; Te^Ceruku; Hin. 

 Ganna). — This plant is iudigenous to India and yields a higher 

 proportion of sugar than any other plant cultivated for sugar. 

 The perennial root-stock produces numerous, solid culms growing 

 to a height of ten feet which bear tufts of leaves and a spreading 



